Final answer:
Using Boyle's Law, which states that pressure and volume are inversely proportional (P1V1 = P2V2) for a fixed amount of gas at constant temperature, the initial volume of the gas before the pressure change can be calculated as 3.46 L.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating Initial Volume of a Gas
To find the initial volume of a gas after changing the pressure from 760.0 torr to 0.800 atm and a final volume of 4.30 L, we can use Boyle's Law. This law states that for a fixed amount of gas at constant temperature, the pressure of the gas is inversely proportional to its volume (P1V1 = P2V2). First, we need to convert the final pressure to the same units as the initial pressure; 1 atm equals 760 torr, so 0.800 atm is the same as 0.800 x 760 torr = 608 torr.
Now we can apply Boyle's Law to find the initial volume (V1):
P1V1 = P2V2
760 torr * V1 = 608 torr * 4.30 L
V1 = (608 torr * 4.30 L) / 760 torr
V1 = 3.46 L
The initial volume of the gas was 3.46 L.